Some of my friends are of
the opinion that I record my sermons. That could not be done in the present
situation, so I’ve decided to publish my Sermon notes! (A kind of Transcript)
10th March 2019 Sunday
Worship Service
10:30-12:30 AM, Grace Derabassi Church
Text: John 1: 10-14
Title: A Genuine Christian's Response to the Gospel.
The text for our
studies this morning is from the Gospel John 1:10-14. We call it “Gospel”
because it tells us the good news – not of bank accounts, not of material
prosperity, not of the longevity of
physical life on earth; but the good news about the person and work of Jesus
Christ, the Son of God.
The book of John
is written by one of the disciples of Jesus Christ, by the name John. He
presented Jesus in his book as the Son of God, the giver of eternal life.
His main purpose in writing this
book is for the reader to believe in Christ.
John 20:31 but these are written that you may believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life
in His name.
That they may have eternal life. Have you heard
that word “eternal life?” Do I need to define it? It is a life-unending,
absence of sins and evils, full of joy and wonders.
You see,
listening to a sermon, or reading Bible
is not to know the facts and go away, but to believe – believing in nothing
else but in Jesus Christ. John Stott says that we go to a concert to be entertained, but we listen
sermons to be obeyed. Before we go to our text, I want you to consider these 2
questions:
Q1. Why do you think that God should
allow you to enter Heaven?
Q2. Why do you think that you are a Christian?
Q2. Why do you think that you are a Christian?
4 brilliant
misconceptions around us regarding these two questions:
1. Christian by birth.
2. God should be good enough to let me in.
3. I will become Christian later on.
4. God is responsible for Hell.
1. Christian by birth.
2. God should be good enough to let me in.
3. I will become Christian later on.
4. God is responsible for Hell.
Years ago, I had
an opportunity to travel from Goa to Bangalore to Guwahati to Shillong to
Imphal. I traveled by buses and train
visiting and meeting different kinds of people. I asked many professing
Christian why they think they are going Heaven when they die. I also asked them
why they think they are Christians. And I got lots of clever answers, but
unfortunately not biblical.
Some people think
they are Christian because they grow up in a Christian family. And some people
do not care because they think they are going to
heaven because God should be good enough to let them in. There are other groups of people who think they can become
Christian sometime later. And
unfortunately, there are also people who think God is responsible for all our
sins and destiny to hell.
I want us to
consider the same question. Are we Christians? How does one know that somebody
is a Christian? Christianity has been here in India and in our hometown, since before we were born. Everybody
in this room, I’m sure must have heard the word “Jesus Christ,” right?
It is how one
responds to the Gospel of Jesus Christ that determines we are genuine Christian
or not. What do you do with him? Well, who is He to you? We see that in our
passage He is full of grace and truth.
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among
us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,
full of grace and truth.
John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
The good news of
Jesus Christ is of grace and truth, which brings salvation. So, the question we
want to ask ourselves now is what do we do with this grace and truth? I want to
help you find our three responsibilities
towards this grace of God, Salvation.
In verse Jn1:10-14 we see two types of
responses to Jesus Christ. So the title of our sermon is “A Genuine Christian
Response to Gospel” Look at verse 10 – 11. We see Rejection of Christ by the
world. Christ and the world.
John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was
made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
(the Romans and all people)
John 1:11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. (the Jews)
Verse 12-13. We see the Reception of Christ. That is Christ and the
Christians.
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He
gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
John 1:13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the
will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Verse 14. We see the Recognition of
Christ. Christ and Glory.
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among
us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,
full of grace and truth.
What would you do
with Christ, with the gospel, with the Salvation of God? Would you reject Him
like the Jews, like the Romans, like the rest of the world as you see in this
passage and in the present world?
Our first responsibility to this Grace
of God is to
1.
Know Christ (10-11) (why?)
Even the whole purpose of the book
Gospel John is to believe Christ and have eternal life. How would you believe
if you do not know Him? Would you entrust someone your wallet or precious thing
whom you do not know? Your answer would be “No! I don’t know him/her”
John 20:31 but these are written that you may
believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may
have life in His name.
What is the
indictment of John for them? “Did not know Him.” We are to know
Christ. How well do you know Christ? Do you know anything very well but know
very less of Christ? Well, who is
He? Look at v.10.
John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was
made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
He is the creator
of this world. He owns everything. He is the source of everything that exists. Christ
is not just the source and not just the
creator, but he is the one who sustains the world.
Col 1:17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
1Cor 8:6 yet for us there is one God, the
Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus
Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.
Heb 1:3 who being the brightness of His glory and the
express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His
power, when He had by Himself[a] purged our[b] sins,
sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Isn’t that good news that we can find satisfaction and
sufficiency in Christ? “And the world did not know Him.” Isn’t
that ironic? He created the world and the word Rejects its Creator!
a.
The worldly mind
compromises/ignores.
How does the world reject Christ? They
deny God. Psalm 14, 53
Ps 14:1-3 The
fool has said in
his heart, “There is no
God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none
who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, They have together
become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.
Ps 53:1 The fool has said
in his heart, “There is no
God.” They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; There is
none who does good.
The fool says in
his heart. It is not what he believes, it is what he says. He wants to fool
himself. Let us not point fingers just to them. Many times, we did too right.
We say we are Christians, but many times live like practical atheist, living
and doing as if God does not exist. You sin willingly, and wrong
knowingly. You like to do illegal things.
In fact, it is the rejection of Christ
that leads one to hell. It is primarily not what we do, but what we refuse to
do.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave
His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have
everlasting life.
John 3:17 For God did not send
His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him
might be saved.
John 3:18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned;
but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of
the only begotten Son of God.
By the way, we
are already sinners from our mother’s womb.
Ps 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my
mother conceived me.
The world and
everything in it is bondage to sin. God curse the world in Genesis3:17. Christ came to save the world. Even the
literal world as seen in Romans 8:20-21.
Rom 8:20 For the creation was subjected to
futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;
Rom 8:21 because the creation itself also will
be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of
the children of God.
The rejection of
Jesus Christ leads one to remain in sin and die in sin. See! It is not about God
sending us to hell, but that we choose to reject heaven and suffer in hell!
“The world did not know him”, in the
sense they would not acknowledge God, nor honor nor glorify God. They would do
everything to deny God. Everybody knows the existence of God.
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from
heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the
truth in unrighteousness,
Rom 1:19 because what may be known of God is
manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
Rom 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible
attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are
made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are
without excuse,
Rom 1:21 because, although they knew God,
they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in
their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
God has shown His
greatness in the creation, he has written in our hearts. We just
want to rebel. There is really no atheist – in the sense who does not believe
in the existence of God. The Bible clearly declares that Everybody knows God.
The fools say in his heart (Ps14). Their hearts are darkened (Romans 1).
Do you know why
they want to deny God? It is because they
can do anything without God. They wanted
to do anything they like. Sinners always sin. To the world, the idea of Christ
is a weakness. It is foolishness
1Cor 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness
to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power
of God.
Know that you are
living in God’s world. You are to live for His glory (Isaiah 43:7). You cannot
live as you please indulging in sins. Know that Jesus the son of God is the
lord of your life, whether you like it or hate it. Phil 2: 10-11 says every
knee will bow….
Phil 2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the
earth,
Phil 2:11 and that every tongue should
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
If you do not confess now, here on earth, even then, on that day you will surely confess,
and still, go to hell. If you confess
here on earth before you die, you shall forever confess and escape the wrath of
God. When would you confess?
Not only the worldly mind compromises/ignores, but
b.
The religious
mind falsifies/opposes (v11.)
It's not just the
world, but the religious people. They have falsified
for all things. They have made their own God. They have their own
idea of God. not the God of the Bible, not the true God. (Even us
we often have our own idea of God right? – That’s an idol.) For the religious
group, Jesus, the gospel is a stumbling block.
1Cor 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to
the Greeks foolishness,
v.11. The Jews would not have Christ
as their God. They have a different idea of Messiah. Jesus became a man in
Jerusalem and lived with “his people.” The phrase “His people,”
because in the history of mankind, God made a covenant
with Abraham to be His God, and of his descendants. Therefore, the people of
Israel were God’s people. All of us are created by God, but God has a special relationship with Israel. But they
rejected Christ. They shouted that He was not their King, and crucified him.
John 19:15 But they cried out, “Away with Him,
away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify
your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”
It shows mankind’s ultimate rejection, the depravity of mankind. We might
say they are bad but we are living like them too. You do not listen to the teaching
of the Bible. You are disobeying God’s word, rejecting it. We even glory in
things we should not be. It has become a trend to say “It’s my life, it’s my
right.” We even blaspheme the name of God, “Oh My God!” every day! Whenever someone annoyed you, do you call out your
mother name or the name of your sweetheart? Why with the name of God?
You continue to
do wrongful things knowingly and willingly. We are exactly like them; we are
denying our own Master. We are like the world, and we are like the Jews who
reject Christ 2000 years ago.
Would you know
God from the Bible? Would you stop making your ideas about God? To know God
is to acknowledge His presence all the time and obey Him. We cannot say we know
Him and live like as if He does not exists.
There is one word for such people – Destruction. They have sealed themselves to
eternal damnation. Know your Creator!
Eccl 12:1 Remember now your Creator in the days of
your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw
near when you say, “ I have no pleasure in them”
This is said by King
Solomon, the wisest of mankind, the wealthiest of mankind, the one who has
tried drugs and sex for pleasure (1000 wives!). He said, “Life is Vanity.” Do you think you can get pleasure in anything
of this world – jobs, drugs, affairs, sexes, fame, popularity, glory, riches,
anything? He had all – more than anyone ever had or will ever have! But He said
that all is vanity, except knowing God!
There is
another man in the New Testament who was successful in every sense of worldly
and religious accomplishment, by the name Saul (later known as the Apostle
Paul). He too like King Solomon says everything is worthless as dung comparing
to the worth of Knowing Christ Jesus, our Lord!
Phil 3:7 But what things were gain to me, these I
have counted loss for Christ.
Phil 3:8 Yet indeed I also count all things
loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom
I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I
may gain Christ
Phil 3:9 and be found in Him, not having my own
righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through
faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
Phil 3:10 that I may know Him and the power of
His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His
death,
My dear beloved brothers and sister,
how well do you know the Gospel? Is Gospel the source of hope and comfort of
life for you in your daily life. Would you see the power of God, the wisdom of God in this simple gospel? Yes, it looks foolish to the worldly eyes, but
only in it is the Salvation of God given to mankind under heaven! It is that
makes us Children of King of Universe? Would you know Him more, Would you be
faithful to His Name? Would you live for Him joyously in all circumstances? Let
us close with the Hymn, “More about Jesus would I know!”
1 More about Jesus would I know,
More of His grace to others show;
More of his saving fullness see,
More of His love who died for me.
More of His grace to others show;
More of his saving fullness see,
More of His love who died for me.
Refrain:
More, more about Jesus,
More, more about Jesus;
More of His saving fullness see,
More of His love who died for me.
More, more about Jesus,
More, more about Jesus;
More of His saving fullness see,
More of His love who died for me.
2 More about Jesus let me learn,
More of his holy will discern;
Spirit of God, my teacher be,
Showing the things of Christ to me. [Refrain]
More of his holy will discern;
Spirit of God, my teacher be,
Showing the things of Christ to me. [Refrain]
3 More about Jesus in His Word,
Holding communion with my Lord;
Hearing his voice in ev'ry line,
Making each faithful saying mine. [Refrain]
Holding communion with my Lord;
Hearing his voice in ev'ry line,
Making each faithful saying mine. [Refrain]
4 More about Jesus on his throne,
Riches in glory all His own;
More if His kingdom's sure increase;
More of His coming, Prince of peace. [Refrain]
Riches in glory all His own;
More if His kingdom's sure increase;
More of His coming, Prince of peace. [Refrain]
Baptist Hymnal, 1991
Shall we pray?
Lord, we thank you for
this glorious truth you have given us through your servant John! You the
eternal God came to this world in the form of a servant to die for wretched
sinners like us that we may become the children of God.
Oh! Lord, we rejoice in this truth that you have
justified us when we believe in you. Oh! That we are your children now, who can
snatch us from your eternal love, care, and
blessings?
Lord, help us to
cultivate the perspective of a new man born again of Christ. May we bear the fruit
of the Spirit in our lives - joy, peace, love, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control!
The world did not know
you, nor do they know the privilege we have in you. Lord, we cry as you wept for Jerusalem, that the professing
Christian of this church will wake up to Salvation by the preaching of your
gospel and the power of the Spirit.
For we cannot convert
anyone nor ourselves to you. Grant the grace that reaches us to reach to others,
Lord! For Lord Salvation belongs to
you. Glory and Honor belong to you
forever and ever. Amen!
